Plant root injector



June 26, 1945. KENNISON PLANT ROOT EINJECTOR Filed June 29, 1944 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED ysr 'rEs PAT-Emerges PLANT ROOT INJECTOR Haven Kennison, Minneapolis, .Minn; Application June 29, 1944, Serial No; 542,691

2 Claims.

My invention relates to injectors and more particularly to devices for injecting liquids into or near to the roots of weeds or other types of plant life.

' The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device which can be used with equal effectiveness in both exterminating and fertilizing of plants by treatment of their root portions.

Another object of my invention is the provision of-a rugged, durable device for the above purpose at a minimum cost.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a tubular device with telescoping upper and lower members; which is shaped much like anordinaryv walking cane; that has an injector needle projecting from its lower end; and which has mechanism concealed within it for positively injecting a predetermined amount of liquid into the roots of plants by pressing downward on the upper section after the needle has been inserted into the roots.

Another object of myinvention is the provision of an annular knife-like member at the base of the tubular body which may be used to cut off the weed projecting above the ground at the same time that the injector needle is being inserted into the roots.

The details of the preferred embodiment and various: other objects and advantages inherent in its construction will be made clear-by the following detailed description and the attached drawing.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like characters'indi'cate like parts throughout'the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel device, some parts beingbroken away and shown in section;

-Fig. 2is an enlarged vertical axial section of the lower portion of the injector, some parts being shown in full; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on'the'line 3-3 of Fig; 2.

Numeral indicates'the tubular body portion of-my novel root injector. Tubular body I is made up of telescoping upper and lower members 2 and 3, respectively. Snugly fitted over the upper body portion 2 is a horizontally ex tending handle 4, having'an end receiving cap 5, whichis tightened around the top thereof by means of thumb nut 6 attached to a bifurcated or split'fiange member I.

The numeral l indicates a preferably tubular body portion of my novel structure, as an entirety, made up of an upper elongated tubular shank 2 and-a lower tubular member in the form of a guide sleeve '3. A- horizontally extending handle 4 is secured to the top end of shankZ. Handle 4 is shown as having'a receiving cap 5, which is tightened around the top end of shank 2 by means of a screw and thumb nut'arrangement 6 which extends through a bifurcated flange member 1.

Mounted fast on the lowerend of shank portion '2 is a head 8 which is cylindrical in' cross section and which isslidably mountedin: sleeve 3 for up and down movements. The upper end of head 8 is shown as having a reduced portion 9 which fits snugly up into the lower end of tubular shank 2. Upper portionofghead 8 is also shown asbeing chambered out at" I0 so as to provide,'together with the lower portion of tubu-' larchamber 2, a fluid reservoir whichrma'ybe.

filled by removal of the handle 4.

As will be seen by referring to 'Fig. 1", guide sleeve 3 is provided with a longitudinally elongated slot l I through which projects a stop screw [2a which is in turn secured to thehead 8;; Base plug l2, preferably shown as having a downwardly projectingannular knife-like member l3 extending around its periphery, is secured by sweating or other suitable meansto the'lower end of guide sleeve 3.

In the space l5, between the lower portion'of head 8 and'the base lug I2, is interposed a coil spring l4, under tension. The space 15 is vented to the atmosphere by an aperture l6. Head 8; which is merely an extension of shank 2, is provided with a longitudinally extending centrally located cylinder bore I 1 opening through its lower end.

A tubular injector needle 39 is held fast at its intermediate portion to base plug l2 at 38 so that one end thereof projects downwardly and the up per end projects upwardly from base plug [2 land into the cylinder bore l1. As' wil1 be observed, the upwardly projecting end of needle 39 fits snugly in cylinder bore [1 and has a closed upper end. These characteristics make the upper end of injector needle 39 act as a piston inthe bore 11. v

Tubular needle 39 has a pointed end on its downwardly projecting portion. The internal longitudinal passage 4| extends from a plurality of laterally extending apertures 43 near the point 40 to a. longitudinally elongated port 42 opening laterally against the wall of cylinder bore ll. It will be noted that port 42 is of a length not less than the length of the stroke of the upper piston acting end or injector needle 39 in the tending bore |8 at its center.

A vertical bore 20, laterally spaced with respect, to axial bore I1, and of enlarged diameter with respect to bore 2|, extends upwardly from the plunger mounted fast on the closed end of said sleeve and projecting upwardly therefrom into the cylinder bore, a tubular injector needle also mounted fast on the closed end of said sleeve and forming an extension of said tubular plunger, said tubular plunger being closed at its upper end and being provided within the cylinder bore with a longitudinally elonagted port opening laterally from the interior thereof against the wall of the cylinder bore and being of a length not less than the length of the stroke of the plunger, said shank being chambered to provide a fluid reservoir above the cylinder bore, said shank being provided with a fluid passage extending from the bottom of head 8 until it communicates with transverse passage I8. Vertical passages 2| and 20, however, are concentrically aligned. A one way opening check valve 26 having a conical end 21, is mounted for reciprocal movements in bore 28. Because of the concentric arrangement of vertical bores and 2|, conical point 2'! makes a liquid tight seal on the seat 28 of the reduced bore 2|. A coil spring 29 is inserted in bore 20 between the lower end of valve 26 and a set screw 30. Set screw 30 is provided with an axial passage 36 to allow the entrance and exit of air as the valve 28 reciprocates in the bore 20.

A vertical bore 25 extends downwardly from transverse passage l8, on the side of head 8 diametrically opposite vertical passage 2|, and communicates with a lateral passage way 23 whichextends inwardly and communicates with the cylinder bore within an area exposed to the elongated port 42 situated in the piston acting upper end of injector needle 39. In practicethe laterally extending passage 23 is made by boring inwardly from the peripheral edge of head 8, and thereafter inserting a plug at 24 to seal the outer end. A bore 22 extends upwardly from the bottom of head8 in communication with the laterally extending passage 23. Again it will be observed that while vertical passage ways or bores 22 and 25 are concentrically disposed with respect to each other, bore 22 is enlarged with respect to bore 25. Mounted in bore 25 for reciprocating movements is a cylindrical valve 3| having a conical end portion 32 which makes a liquid tight seal on the lower edge '33 of reduced bore 25. Coil spring 34 is inserted between the bottom of valve 3| and a set screw 35 in the bottom end of bore 22. Set screw 35 i's'axially bored at 37 to provide an air passage therethrough to facilitate the reciprocal movements of cylindrical valve 3|.

In accordance with the patent'statutes' I have disclosed a complete machine ordevice for the purposes had in view, but it will be understood that the same is capable of various modifications 'all within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and broadly claimed.

' What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, an elongated shank, a guide sleeve telescopically applied over the lower end of said shank for reciprocating movements with respect thereto and projecting outwardly thereof, stop means limiting the extent of reciprocating movements of said sleeve with respect to said shank, said sleeve being substantially closed at its bottom, the lower endportion of said shank being provided with a-lon-' gitudinally extendingcylinder bore opening through its lower end, a tubular piston acting reservoir thereof and opening laterally into the of said cylinder bore, said check valves bein yieldingly biased toward closed positions in directions to prevent upward flow of fluid therethrough to the reservoir but to permit downward flow of fluid i'romthe reservoir, and yielding means biasing the sleeve and plunger to move to their outer extreme positions. i

2 In a device of the kind described, an elongated shank, a guide sleeve telescopically applied over the lower end of said shank for reciprocating movements with respect thereto and projecting outwardly thereof, stop means limiting the extent of reciprocating movements of said sleeve with respect to said shank, said sleevebeing substantially closed at its bottom, the lower end portion of said shank being provided with a 1ongitudinally extending cylinder bore opening through its lower end, a tubular piston acting plunger mounted fast on the closed end ofsaid sleeve and projecting upwardly therefrom into the cylinder bore, a tubular injector needle-also mounted fast on the closed end of said sleeve and forming an extension of said tubular plunger, said tubular plunger being closed at its upper end and being provided within the cylinder bore with a longitudinally elongated port opening laterally from the interior thereof against the wall of the cylinder bore and being of a length not less than the length of the stroke of the plunger, said shank being chambered to provide a fluid reservoir above the cylinder bore, said shank being provided with a fluid passage extending from the reservoir thereof and opening laterally into the cylinder bore thereof within the area exposed to the elongated port of the plunger, the upper end portion of said cylinder bore being in communication with the intermediate portion of said fluid passage, one way opening check valves located in said fluid passage at opposite sides of its point of communication with the upper end of said cylinder bore, said check valves being yieldingiy biased toward. closed positions in directions to prevent upward flow of fluid therethrough to the reservoir but to permit downward flow of fluid,

HAVEN KENNISQNF 

